Automated turning and pressing apparatus and method

Abstract

Method and apparatus for automated inverting and pressing of apparel components. A turning apparatus is provided for inverting run-stitched shirt collars or other apparel components and an automated pressing apparatus is provided for aligning a two-dimensional component so that a crease pressed therein will be located in the proper position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for automated pressing of two-dimensional apparel components, each of which comprises a plurality of superimposed plies seamed along all but one adjacent edge, said apparatus comprising: a frame, said frame including a support table for supporting an apparel component thereon;   a creaser blade mechanism movably mounted on said frame, said creaser blade mechanism adapted to move into said apparel component between two of said plurality of superimposed plies;   means for aligning the superimposed plies of said apparel component so that when said apparel component is pressed, a properly located crease will be formed; and   means for pressing said apparel component;   wherein said support table includes a vacuum table for maintaining said apparel component in place while said creaser blade mechanism is moved into said apparel component, said vacuum table being moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said creaser blade mechanism so that said vacuum table can be moved to a position that does not interfere with the operation of said means for aligning the superimposed plies after said creaser blade mechanism has been moved into said apparel component.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus for automated pressing of two-dimensional apparel components, each of which comprises a plurality of superimposed plies seamed along all but one adjacent edge, said apparatus comprising: a frame, said frame including a support table for supporting an apparel component thereon;   a creaser blade mechanism movably mounted on said frame, said creaser blade mechanism adapted to move into said apparel component between two of said plurality of superimposed plies;   means for aligning the superimposed plies of said apparel component so that when said apparel component is pressed, a properly located crease will be formed; and   means for pressing said apparel component;   wherein said creaser blade mechanism includes a plurality of blades slidably moveable with respect to each other, said plurality of blades including a middle blade and two side blades, said side blades having angled sections that slide along corresponding angled sections of said middle blade so that said blade mechanism can move into said apparel component with the middle blade first, and said side blades can slide into said apparel component to substantially conform to the shape of the apparel component to maintain it in the proper orientation for pressing.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus for automated pressing of two-dimensional apparel components, each of which comprises a plurality of superimposed plies seamed along all but one adjacent edge, said apparatus comprising: a frame, said frame including a support table for supporting an apparel component thereon;   a creaser blade mechanism movably mounted on said frame, said creaser blade mechanism adapted to move into said apparel component between two of said plurality of superimposed plies;   means for aligning the superimposed plies of said apparel component so that when said apparel component is pressed, a properly located crease will be formed; and   means for pressing said apparel component;   wherein said means for aligning the superimposed plies of said apparel component include means for moving the unseamed edges of said plies into alignment, said means for moving the unseamed edges into alignment including means for clamping at least one of said edges, means for moving at least one of said edges, and means for indicating when said clamped edge and said moved edge are aligned.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 3 above, wherein said means for moving at least one of said edges comprises at least one linear drive with at least two directions of movement, the first direction of movement being in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ply to be moved and the second direction of movement being in the plane of said ply to be moved wherein said at least one linear drive can be actuated to grip said ply to be moved and move it into alignment with said clamped ply. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 3 above, wherein said means for indicating when said clamped edge and said moved edge are aligned includes a vision sensor for providing feedback data on relative locations of the upper and lower plies.